0:00:02 > 0:00:04We give money to people in need but the problem is
0:00:04 > 0:00:07wherever there's money, there are people who want to steal it.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Welcome to the world of Saints & Scroungers.
0:00:32 > 0:00:38Saints & Scroungers expose the benefit thieves who ruthlessly steal millions every year from us,
0:00:38 > 0:00:42the taxpayers, and it searches out the saints,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46those who put unclaimed cash into the pockets of people who need it
0:00:46 > 0:00:51and the people who are too proud or simply don't know how to claim what they're entitled to.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And coming up on today's programme: the family who cheated the benefits
0:00:57 > 0:01:02system to build a property empire worth £1.5 million...
0:01:02 > 0:01:06When you get one family group abstracting this sort of money,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08it's not a need thing, that's greed.
0:01:08 > 0:01:15and a remarkable mum whose daughter's rare condition has inspired her to help others.
0:01:15 > 0:01:21It meant going blind, going deaf, having strokes...
0:01:25 > 0:01:31But first, the family of fraudsters who used benefits to build their property empire.
0:01:31 > 0:01:37The thing about benefit fraudsters is some of them aren't exactly honest about where they live.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40That's one of their little tricks. I mean, take me at this address.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Now, if I got my mail here, you might think that I live here.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50Morning. But what about if I actually lived at this address? Confused?
0:01:50 > 0:01:55Well, pity the poor investigators who had to deal with nine suspects and four different houses.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Meet the Pathmanathans, originally from Sri Lanka,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10a large, close-knit family living in north-west London.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15On paper, they appear to be a low-income family struggling to make ends meet.
0:02:15 > 0:02:21In fact, times have been so tough they've needed help to pay the rent on their four homes
0:02:21 > 0:02:28and over the last 14 years have received over £168,000 in housing and council-tax benefits.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37But a tip-off to Brent council's Fraud Investigation Unit
0:02:37 > 0:02:42has placed the Pathmanathan family under suspicion of running a massive housing benefit scam.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49I'm off to meet head of fraud Simon Lane to find out more.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Put it in a nutshell. What is housing benefit?
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Well, you can get housing benefit if you're renting, if you're
0:02:56 > 0:03:01on a low income or no income, and it's a means-tested benefit
0:03:01 > 0:03:05the Government pays through local authorities to help you with your rent.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Give me an idea - in Brent, compared to the UK, how much do you spend on it?
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Our bill last year was over 300 million for both local housing
0:03:14 > 0:03:17allowance and the people that are still on housing benefit.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22In the UK, the UK spends about £20 billion nationally on housing benefit.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Those are astronomical figures. You've shocked me with that.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Yeah, a large bit of the bill for the country is on housing benefit.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Where there's money, there's people prepared to pilfer it,
0:03:32 > 0:03:36and Simon Lane believes the Pathmanathan family might be doing exactly that.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- What alerted you to this case? - We had an anonymous tip-off in that
0:03:42 > 0:03:47Kalaivany Pathmanathan was claiming to be a single claimant at an address
0:03:47 > 0:03:50when in fact she was living with her husband at that address.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52But it snowballed from there.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58So an anonymous tip-off saying this woman, Kalaivany, was lying to the council.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01She had been claiming benefits from an address in Clayton Avenue
0:04:01 > 0:04:04as a single woman renting from a private landlord.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06We'll call this Property A.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Now, if she is living with her husband in this house, she could be in a spot of bother.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The question is, is it actually illegal to rent from a relative?
0:04:19 > 0:04:25The rules are complicated. You can't rent from a close relative if they're living in the property with you.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29There are limited circumstances where you can rent from a close relative,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32but the tenancy has to be on a commercial basis.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36The property had been rented in the past on a commercial basis.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37And you need proof?
0:04:37 > 0:04:44Yeah, you need proof of that, and you can't set up a tenancy to contrive to take advantage of the benefit scheme.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52The fraud team's sole mission is to stamp out benefit fraud, and a tip-off about Kalaivany
0:04:52 > 0:04:57was enough for Brent Council to launch a full-scale investigation.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05The starting point for this case is the application form where
0:05:05 > 0:05:07benefit claimants have to declare their circumstances.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09This is usually where the lies begin.
0:05:12 > 0:05:19So Simon immediately turns his attention to Kalaivany's original application.
0:05:19 > 0:05:25No evidence that it's been declared that the husband is the owner, and we do a Land Registry check.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31That shows that the husband, Premkumar, and his brother Sivakumar own the property.
0:05:33 > 0:05:39On her original claim, Kalaivany said the landlord was a Mr P Sivakumar.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43It now seemed that devious Kalaivany had simply swapped her brother-in-law,
0:05:43 > 0:05:49Sivakumar Pathmanathan's, first and last name around to hide the family connection.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But Simon didn't stop his investigations there.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00In various financial checks on the property, principally Credit Reference Agency checks
0:06:00 > 0:06:04which give a link to the adjoining property in Clayton Avenue,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and we see who the claimant is there.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13It turns out that father Sinniah is claiming at that address,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15giving a different landlord.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19The Land Registry again confirms that that property is indeed owned
0:06:19 > 0:06:22by Premkumar and another brother, Pathkumar.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28No indication that the father has declared that on his tenancy agreement.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Hang on a minute. Talk about close-knit.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36According to the claim forms, dad Sinniah is renting a room in a house
0:06:36 > 0:06:41we'll call Property B from an agent named Sittampalam Soundrasritharan,
0:06:41 > 0:06:47and this house is conveniently right next door to where Kalaivany is allegedly living alone.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58But checks show that the house is in fact jointly owned by two of Sinniah's sons
0:06:58 > 0:07:02and the mysterious agent Sittampalam is in fact one of his son-in-laws.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08And then Simon discovered something else.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14The details we get for Sinniah give us a link to an address in Harrow.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21Harrow. The case is expanding across London.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Sinniah's claim forms refer to a house in Minehead Road, Property C.
0:07:25 > 0:07:32The problem is it's over the council border, so fraud teams at Harrow are alerted, and they immediately agree
0:07:32 > 0:07:35to work with Brent to see where all this is leading.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40The senior investigator at Harrow is Sonia Muckerjee.
0:07:40 > 0:07:47We first became aware of the case when we were contacted by Brent investigators
0:07:47 > 0:07:49to tell us that they were investigating Sinniah,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52who is the father of the family.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55And as a result, the landlord of Clayton Avenue
0:07:55 > 0:07:59had given an address in Northolt,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02and the person who claimed to be owning the Northolt address
0:08:02 > 0:08:05was actually our benefit claimant.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09The Harrow housing benefit claimant
0:08:09 > 0:08:12is another Pathmanathan, called Pathmakumar.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15He's one of the sons who co-owns Property B back in Clayton Avenue
0:08:15 > 0:08:18where dad Sinniah is alleged to be living,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22but it's the same old story.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25He made no mention of owning a property in Brent
0:08:25 > 0:08:28on the housing benefit claim form he submitted to Harrow.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42The investigation had now been underway for six months,
0:08:42 > 0:08:48and fraud investigators are working flat out to try and piece the puzzle together.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And just when it couldn't get any more complicated,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55the team over at Harrow discovered a fourth house,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Martin Drive, Property D.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00It was the same pattern.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04The house was owned by two family members
0:09:04 > 0:09:07but with benefits being claimed by another family member,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09and in this case, it was the original claimant,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Kalaivany's husband, Premkumar.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14The circle was now complete.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17This was turning out to be a fraud
0:09:17 > 0:09:22on an unprecedented scale for Harrow and Brent investigators.
0:09:22 > 0:09:28I think the size of this one in terms of value makes it quite unique.
0:09:28 > 0:09:34168,000 is a lot of money to lose from one family group.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37So in that sense, it was a big case for us -
0:09:37 > 0:09:40complicated, difficult to unpick,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43which made it one of our bigger cases.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50With the strong suspicion that they were dealing with a massive organised family scam,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Harrow and Brent just needed to prove it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57And they came up with a plan to put the whole family under surveillance.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58If they could get photographic evidence
0:09:58 > 0:10:03that no-one was living where they said they were on their claim form,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07the fraud teams would be one step nearer to a prosecution.
0:10:08 > 0:10:14- How long did you watch them for? - They weren't really long periods of time,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18but various days, trying to establish who was coming and going,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22principally in the mornings, when children are dropped off at school.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24After three months,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27the investigators had the photographic evidence they needed
0:10:27 > 0:10:31to prove that some family members were using different addresses
0:10:31 > 0:10:34than those quoted on their claim forms, and there was more.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37During the surveillance of these people,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41you notice what vehicles are on the driveway or outside of the house.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43You're entitled to do a check on them.
0:10:43 > 0:10:49We find that the family are driving a Porsche and a BMW,
0:10:49 > 0:10:56you know, not really the sort of vehicle you'd associate with a genuine benefit claimant.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01So it seems this family group have not only been using our tax money
0:11:01 > 0:11:05to pay off each other's mortgages on their four properties,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08worth in the London market over £1.5 million,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10they've also had enough spare cash
0:11:10 > 0:11:14to bomb around in top-end luxury cars.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The team were now tantalising close
0:11:18 > 0:11:21to shutting down the Pathmanathan family business.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26I think what's frustrating with all benefit fraud is the fact that
0:11:26 > 0:11:29these losses come straight out of the public purse.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31It's taxpayers' money.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35It's money that, you know, where the people are not entitled to it,
0:11:35 > 0:11:42could be used for either genuine claimants or for other public benefit.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48When you get one family group abstracting this sort of money
0:11:48 > 0:11:51to create what's essentially a property portfolio,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55it's not a need thing, that's greed.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Although the fraud team knew exactly who they were dealing with,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02they still a long way to go before they could get this family sent down.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06The surveillance photographs alone were not enough to ensure a conviction.
0:12:11 > 0:12:17They had to come up with a plan, a plan that would net all of them at the same time.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Later in the show, the Pathmanathans get a very rude awakening.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28We need to talk to you about your benefits.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35From the scroungers ripping off the system to the people we call our saints,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38those individuals who help put money into the pockets
0:12:38 > 0:12:43of people in genuine need and the people who are too proud
0:12:43 > 0:12:46or simply don't know how to claim what's due to them.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Imagine finding out that one of your children
0:12:53 > 0:12:56had a rare genetic condition and may not live past their teens.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59You have to give up your job, become a full-time carer
0:12:59 > 0:13:03and make the most of those precious years together.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08Jane Hughes is facing exactly that scenario.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Her 18-year-old daughter Amy has a rare genetic condition
0:13:11 > 0:13:16and she's not expected to live much further into adulthood.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Life is tough for them both.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25When she was born, I remember saying, "What have I had?
0:13:25 > 0:13:27"Is it a girl or a boy?" Nobody was answering.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29What was actually wrong with her?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32She just, to them, had an unusual look.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36To me, she just looked like a tiny baby - which she was, she was only 2lb 11.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Lots and lots and lots of people said she looks like she's been here before.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41She looks older than her age.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Amy's unusual look baffled doctors.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47They had no idea what was wrong with her.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52All Jane knew was her plans to return to her job in insurance were in tatters.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54When you had to give up work, how did you find the benefits system?
0:13:54 > 0:14:01Well, when I gave up work, I didn't claim any benefits, because I actually didn't realise you could.
0:14:01 > 0:14:07With her income slashed financially, she was in dire straits, and it was a difficult time.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12'But then, when Amy was five, a friend threw Jane a lifeline.'
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Somebody mentioned to me, "Does she get Disability Living Allowance?",
0:14:16 > 0:14:21because, you know, we knew then there was a problem from the geneticist.
0:14:21 > 0:14:28And so I claimed Disability Living Allowance, and they back-paid to birth, and also later on
0:14:28 > 0:14:33I claimed Invalid Care Allowance for myself, because I wasn't working and I was classed as her carer.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40The benefits went some way to help Jane and Amy
0:14:40 > 0:14:43get on with their lives.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48But by her early teens, Amy was still nowhere near to getting a diagnosis.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53Desperate for answers, Jane took matters into her own hands.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Had you researched what it was? - I'd gone on the internet and spent
0:14:56 > 0:15:00months and months researching, and I'd come across Cockayne syndrome on the internet.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Cockayne syndrome is a rare genetic disorder
0:15:04 > 0:15:11characterised by short stature and the appearance of premature ageing, symptoms which described Amy to a T.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16I'd kept on and on and on to the medical profession, "I think this is what it is,"
0:15:16 > 0:15:20and they wouldn't have it that it was that.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25When she was deteriorating so badly, and wasn't getting any treatment,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29that we just couldn't live like that any longer,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33we put a story in our local paper to try and get a doctor
0:15:33 > 0:15:37in the UK to try and help us, and the article went across to America.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42Somebody from America got in touch and told us of a doctor that specialised in Cockayne syndrome,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45because I'd mentioned I thought it was that in the article.
0:15:46 > 0:15:52Having made contact with Jane, the doctor in Boston had agreed there was a possibility
0:15:52 > 0:15:57Amy may have this rare syndrome, but the only way to know for sure was to meet in person.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01So he invited Amy and her mum to attend a Cockayne syndrome conference.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09I couldn't wait to see the doctor. I just kept looking around for him to walk in.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11And as he got up to her, he just turned to me and he said,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14"Without a shadow of a doubt, she's got Cockayne syndrome."
0:16:14 > 0:16:20At last Jane had the diagnosis, but it came with the knowledge of what this meant for her daughter.
0:16:23 > 0:16:30It meant going blind, going deaf, having strokes,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34losing the ability to walk, talk,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37a short life expectancy...
0:16:37 > 0:16:40So they actually age very rapidly?
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Yeah, very premature ageing. Yeah.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46I mean, Amy's been lucky to get to 18 and lucky, in some ways -
0:16:46 > 0:16:51in all the families I've met now, very lucky.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56But as the doctors in America said, the children who live longer suffer longer.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Jane found the strength to turn her attention to helping
0:16:58 > 0:17:05others affected by the syndrome, and in 2007, she launched a charity - Amy and Friends.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10And Jane has now become an unofficial ambassador for the condition.
0:17:10 > 0:17:17I try and support as many people as I can who have anything to do with
0:17:17 > 0:17:23Cockayne syndrome, so whether it be the families, brothers and sisters, teachers.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Even doctors come to me and ask questions.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Having experienced her own financial hardships,
0:17:30 > 0:17:36Jane is particularly passionate about making sure families get all the benefits they deserve,
0:17:36 > 0:17:42and she's fully aware that sometimes it's pride that stops people claiming what is rightfully theirs.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Catherine came across the charity when her six-year-old son,
0:17:44 > 0:17:49Thomas, was diagnosed with the syndrome three years ago.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54We were very reluctant at first to look at benefits, because you feel like you can cope and you feel like
0:17:54 > 0:17:58you've always coped in the past and that you don't need any help.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02But actually, you do need help, because Thomas does need more support,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06'in some ways, than the average six-year-old child.'
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Oi! No chasing me!
0:18:13 > 0:18:19Jane also organises an annual weekend retreat, a major event that brings together families
0:18:19 > 0:18:25affected by Cockayne syndrome from around the world as well as some of the leading doctors in the field.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31We have begun to test at a Children's Hospital in Boston
0:18:31 > 0:18:35a possible medication for the treatment of Cockayne syndrome.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38For the parents, it's a precious chance to learn more about the condition.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40And does anybody have any questions about that?
0:18:40 > 0:18:45For the kids, it's a chance to have fun and some experiences they'll remember forever.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50This year's retreat is fabulous.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54There's so many more people, and we're in a better venue, really.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59We've got loads of entertainment and excitement and the doctors come to see the children.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01It just makes everything worthwhile, doesn't it?
0:19:01 > 0:19:08I do this so that Amy's life isn't in vain and just to help others, you know, not feel so isolated.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10And they obviously don't, do they?
0:19:10 > 0:19:12We're all one big group.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17People like Amy and her mum really are incredible people.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Not only are they dealing with all their challenges head-on,
0:19:20 > 0:19:25they're also using their experience to help other people cope with this devastating condition.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28In my book, people like this are real saints.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35And now it's back to the world of the scrounger.
0:19:37 > 0:19:43In northwest London, Brent and Harrow council fraud investigators are a tad confused.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47They have four properties, each with tenants claiming housing benefit,
0:19:47 > 0:19:54but mysteriously, all the houses seem to be owned by different members of the same extended family.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56They're called the Pathmanathans.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08Fraud teams from Harrow and Brent councils suspect the family has been
0:20:08 > 0:20:11fabricating their tenancy agreements
0:20:11 > 0:20:13in order to steal over £168,000
0:20:13 > 0:20:16in housing and council tax benefits
0:20:16 > 0:20:20and they used it to build a property portfolio.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24We're trying to build a picture of who is related to who.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29We've got surnames and forenames being switched around,
0:20:29 > 0:20:37but we're clear the name Pathmanathan is appearing frequently on Land Registry searches
0:20:37 > 0:20:38and in benefit claims
0:20:38 > 0:20:42so we know that there's some sort of family group operating.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Surveillance had provided some photographic evidence
0:20:47 > 0:20:51that family members were using and possibly living
0:20:51 > 0:20:53at different address than those quoted on
0:20:53 > 0:20:56their benefit claim forms and fraud investigator
0:20:56 > 0:21:02Simon Lane was now convinced that this family was up to no good.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04So you've got two types of fraud here.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09One is non-declaration of an asset, ie a property, and the other is
0:21:09 > 0:21:12a tenancy contrived to take advantage of the scheme,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16so, essentially, the housing benefit that is being paid
0:21:16 > 0:21:19out to these people is paying the mortgages on the properties.
0:21:21 > 0:21:28And those four properties in the London market were worth in total £1.5 million.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32No wonder Brent and Harrow were determined to put this swindling family in front of a judge.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36But to ensure a conviction, they still needed more hard evidence.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So the investigators planned an ambush, a co-ordinated sting
0:21:42 > 0:21:47involving Harrow and Brent's fraud teams and the police.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50The plan was to knock at the Pathmanathans' houses simultaneously in the hope
0:21:50 > 0:21:57of catching the family members all living at different addresses to those stated on their claim forms.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03We co-ordinated three visits at three separate properties, two in this borough, one in Harrow.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05So the officers arrived about half seven.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10We had a little bit of a briefing beforehand and a co-ordinated sting, if you want to call it that,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12at quarter to eight so that people were knocking
0:22:12 > 0:22:14on the door at the same time.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Yes.- We need to talk to you about your benefit.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26The reason that we wanted to go simultaneously was to ensure that
0:22:26 > 0:22:34no phone calls or people could not move from one address if we'd maybe visited 15 or 20 minutes apart.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43Just as the fraud team had suspected, no-one was living where they said they were.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Welcome to house swap central.
0:22:46 > 0:22:52At the original property in Clayton Avenue, where Kalaivany was supposed to be living alone,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56surprise, surprise, her husband was hanging out in the back garden.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01At the adjoining property in Clayton Avenue, where the head of the family, Mr Sinniah Pathmanathan,
0:23:01 > 0:23:07was supposed to be living, Kajani, the wife of one of the sons, answered the door.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Now, she was meant to be living in Minehead Road,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15but when the police went there, one of the Pathmanathans' daughters, Shamini, answered.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Now, she came up with a little story claiming to be Kajani, the woman
0:23:19 > 0:23:22who was registered for benefits at THAT address.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Now, that was hardly likely to fool the Fraud Squad, seeing as the real
0:23:25 > 0:23:30Kajani had just answered the door back in Clayton Avenue.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33So already at this point you know you've rung the bell, don't you?
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Yeah. Yeah, we're pretty confident that we've now got a good case.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39People aren't where they say they're supposed to be.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43We've got evidence of a partner living with...
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- You caught them with their pants down, didn't you?- Effectively.
0:23:47 > 0:23:53But before the case came to court, the Pathmanathans, who clearly knew their 14-year-old scam was up,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55set to work stashing away major assets
0:23:55 > 0:23:59to avoid confiscation by the authorities.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04They were busy trying to get rid of any assets they owned, because they
0:24:04 > 0:24:10feared that should the court case come to fruition these assets would be confiscated from them.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Their luxury cars were the first to vanish, and then one of the houses
0:24:16 > 0:24:23worth £250,000 was sold off to a family member for just 25 grand.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28But for Simon Lane, this just confirmed everything he thought about the Pathmanathans.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34I would describe the family group as a deceitful
0:24:34 > 0:24:40family group intent on defrauding the public purse from the outset in order to get their properties paid for.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44After three years' hard graft, nothing was going to stop
0:24:44 > 0:24:49Brent and Harrow fraud teams putting this deceitful family in court.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55A hearing was set for May 2010, but after the charges were put
0:24:55 > 0:24:59to them, just three of the nine family members pleaded guilty.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04The rest were determined to take it to trial by judge and jury.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09When a final verdict was returned, an impressive five of the six
0:25:09 > 0:25:12defendants were found guilty - a fantastic result.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Just Kajani was found to be innocent of any crime.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21One month later, and the Pathmanathan eight were
0:25:21 > 0:25:27back for sentencing, with Simon Lane and Sonia Muckerjee in attendance to ensure justice was done.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35After a tense wait, news is finally in.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Premkumar is sentenced to 14 months in prison.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Sivakumar gets six months, and it's the same for Shamini.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51Her husband Nalliah is sentenced to 15 months, as is Pathmakumar.
0:25:51 > 0:25:59Son-in-law Sittampalam was given a ten-month suspended sentence, while dad Sinniah and Kalaivany
0:25:59 > 0:26:02both received a suspended sentence of a year each.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06In addition,
0:26:06 > 0:26:12the prosecution will seek to recoup the £168,000 they've stolen in benefits
0:26:12 > 0:26:16plus profit made by the family through their criminal activity.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22And as for those disposed-of assets, a financial investigation
0:26:22 > 0:26:26will ensure that they will factor in the final compensation hearing.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31We would classify this is a big success for us. A long investigation,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35a long, drawn-out prosecution, you know, numerous witnesses,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37numerous defendants, and we've got a good result at the end of it.
0:26:40 > 0:26:47We are happy. It's been a long, complicated case, and we believe by bringing these defendants to court,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51we have served justice for the taxpayer in stating to people
0:26:51 > 0:26:54who defraud the system that we will take you to court.
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